Here Comes the Bride: How to Choose a Wedding Venue

When it comes to planning a wedding, choosing a venue can be the most important thing. So how do you decide which venue will be one that you both will love?

Keep reading for some great tips on how to choose a wedding venue. 

1. Determine Your Budget

When it comes to deciding where you would like to have your wedding you need to be realistic and keep your budget in mind. Venues aren’t just about the cost of renting the space. You have to factor in any additional costs. If they offer catering, you have to determine the price-per-plate, as well as any additional charges for decor and floral arrangements. 

If these added expenses go over your budget, then you will either have to decide between a more affordable space or adjust the design of your wedding. When preparing your budget, break down your expenses by category and allocate your funds to the vendors that are a higher priority for you. If the cost of your venue is too high, it might be difficult to stay within your budget when hiring the rest of the vendors you will need. 

2. Research Venues

Once you have your budget planned out, you can start researching the different venues that you are interested in. Keep a spreadsheet to track all of the venues that you have researched so that you can easily organize and review them when needed. 

When researching venues, many of the websites will offer different information or not enough information at all, which can make things frustrating. By keeping a spreadsheet, you can easily identify what details you have or still need from the various places you are interested in. This will make it easier if you need to email or call to have your questions answered. 

Some of the items you should add to your spreadsheet are the name of the venue, where it is located, how many people it can hold, is the venue available on your dates. Also, have a column for the rates they are charging for extras such as the in-house catering, chairs, tables, and linens. 

Once you have all these factors in place, you can begin to narrow down your search for venues based on space, amenities, and cost. This will help make the decision process much easier. 

3. Consider Your Guests

Knowing how many people are planning on attending your wedding is a big factor to consider when determining which venue is right for you. If you decide on a venue that is to small for your guest list, especially if you have any last-minute additions, then you might find yourself in a tricky situation. You may not realize how many people you or your partner are planning on inviting, plus the number of people your parents are hoping to invite. 

The number of guests can quickly add up, so it is a good idea to discuss this with your parents and partner so you can choose your venue wisely. On the other side of the coin, you don’t want to choose a venue that is too large if you plan on having a smaller, more intimate affair. You don’t want the room to look like it is empty. 

In addition to knowing how many guests will attend, you need to consider how many are planning on coming from out of town. For convenience, you will need to look for a venue that is near or part of a hotel and make sure the rooms are comfortable. 

4. Know What Is Included

Some venues might be a full-service, everything is included, whereas some might be more of an a-la-cart situation where you can use your own decor and bring in your own vendors. Depending on your taste or vision for your wedding, either of these might be a good option for you. 

However, you should figure out which of these fits better into your budget. If your ideal wedding has a lot of unique personal touches, such as a floral arrangement from bridalbouquets.com or a wedding cake from your favorite bakery, you will need to find a venue that allows you to bring your own vendors. This way, you can have these subtle touches on your big day and not sacrifice the details you’ve been dreaming about. 

When having to hire all these different entities though, you should pay close attention to your budget. Sometimes it is cost friendlier to find a full-service venue since everything you need will be included. Keep in mind that you will still need to figure in the total tax and gratuity, so you aren’t surprised by the final bill. 

5. Hire a Planner

Planning a wedding can be a lot of work and stress if you do it on your own. If you know what you want for your big day, you can discuss it with a wedding planner who can help you not only plan everything out but handle the details you may have forgotten. 

A planner will also be able to take the information you have provided for what you are looking for in a venue and help you pick one based on your wants and needs. Not only can a wedding planner help save you time, but they can also save you money too. Often times, they have built up relationships with other professionals in the wedding business and can work out deals to help keep you and your budget on track. 

Learn More About How to Choose a Wedding Venue Today!

Hopefully, these tips for how to choose a wedding venue will help you get started in planning your special day. With a little time and research, you should be able to have everything you need and be able to stick to your budget easily. 

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